As long as I can remember, Auburn has been a home to me. I have had season football tickets since I was five, and have tailgated in the same spot with the same people before everyhome game. I have gone on many Sunday afternoons to baseball or basketball games. There have also been numerous movies, cheer camps, softball games, swimmeets and fan days in my beloved city. I have spent the majority of the past 4 years living and attending Auburn University, which strengthens and deepens my love for Auburn. And yesterday I said good bye.
No it's not goodbye forever. I will return in one year and finish up my degree and walk proudly across the colisuem. But for the first time in my memory I will not be in Auburn for a whole year. It's scary. There is an off chance that I might get to come back during Thanksgiving (AU/Bama game), but that is looking slimmer by the day.
Yesterday I went to campus by myself to say goodbye. I started at the hill a Mary Martin Hall of course. I sat on the bench under the tree where I've sat sooo many times before. I walked towards the library and stood in the middle of "our" football field. "Tackle on grass, 2 hand touch on cement," The lawn infront of the libary. I remembered when Kev knocked out his teeth playing in the rain, where I was the all time "Hutter" and Ben was so scared of me because could tackle as hard as his brother Will.
I saw the ledge on the library where I liked to retreat to when I wanted to think in college, because we climbed it as a kids. I saw where I feel off the ledge and pretended to be hurt to make all the boys feel guilty because they were faster than me reaching the end.
I walked towards Samford and sat on the front steps. I cried. This is my home. Its more than just football, its me. It's the sound, the smell, the taste, the traditon, the family I feel here. I see my temp home the Aerospcae Building, I can see toomers, I can see the seal I still have not steped on. I blame my daddy. He did this to me, he made it so hard to say goodbye even when its just for a short time and I'm going to experience greater things.
I walked past Foy and towards the Stadium, Jordan-Hare. I couldn't get to it because I didn't want to go around construction, but I saw it: the lights, the upper deck, the moral. I remember the feeling I had as a little girl climbing up the steps to section 103, row 15, seats 1-6. I remember praying to God during the first overtime game against UGA. Making daddy stay and predicting Duvall's kick against Bama. Watching Courtney Taylor's catch again LSU after a hurricane. And all most falling out of the stands from yelling and jumping so hard after the blocked punt against UF this year. So many, many memories.
I turn and walk whats left of the original walk Mom, Dad, Kevin, Coling, and I took back to the hill. through the quad and past the library and I ended where I began. On the hill. I know I will be back, I will always come back to Auburn, its my home. It just made it so real, I'm leaving and growing up and life happens. This is Auburn to me. The feeling, the memories, the people, the atmosphere. This is what I know I am going to miss most next year. Auburn. War Eagle!
